The public-health profession has been looking for a justification for its existence ever since the communicable diseases that it was established to fight were all but wiped out.

ECONOMIST: Rout of the new evil empire

The country's first commercial drop zone was established in 1990 in Queenstown and the activity has grown quickly ever since, partly thanks to New Zealand's reputation for extreme sports.

BBC: Falling into New Zealand, from 10,000 feet

Dan Fodio's son, Muhammed Bello, established the empire's capital in Sokoto and it has remained the centre of Nigerian Islam ever since, with its huge mosque opposite the sultan's palace.

BBC: The Sultan of Sokoto Mohammadu Maccido